Sunday May 19 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions For NBA Playoffs, MLB, & More

The Denver Nuggets have the heart of a champion, but the Minnesota Timberwolves believe their time is now. 

The Atlanta Braves, and 2023 National League MVP Ronald Acuna aren't quite where they want to be, and Yu Darvish is the next hurdle they'll face. 

Capping our tasty menu, how about a bet on the NFL win totals to break up the afternoon?  

Let's eat! 

Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets proved their championship mettle (obligatory sports cliche reference) at Minnesota in Game 5, erased all that momentum with a no-show in Game 6, and now face the prospect of a very early exit. 

The defending champions must find that swagger again in Game 7 against the Timberwolves, but we are not suggesting they will cover the five points – this series has been a crazy dose of "who the hell knows?" already. 

We'll peg the favored Nuggets as most likely winners, however. 

According to Vegas Insider stats, favorites during the 2024 NBA playoffs are 33-33 against the spread (ATS), but they are 43-23 straight up. 

 The road teams have covered roughly half of the ATS matchups, but the home team has won 41 of that 66 games straight up. Nikola Jokić, with apologies to the rising tide of Anthony Edwards momentum, is the best player in the NBA. 

He controls a game like no other, even as he sometimes sees his supporting cast fail him. Doesn’t matter. 

 If the MVP has to score 40 again Sunday night, he will. 

 Denver moneyline -198 (FanDuel, DraftKings). Jokic three-leg parlay: 25 points with 10 rebounds with 8+assists -101 (FanDuel). 

San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves

 The Padres are narrowly favored in the Major League Baseball prime-time TV matchup largely because ace right-hander Yu Darvish, their scheduled starter, has been very strong. 

He's 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 40 2/3 innings of work. But the Braves aren't intimidated. Darvish has a 1-4 career mark and a 5.30 ERA against Atlanta. The Braves have picked up 39 hits and 15 walks (a bloated 1.51 WHIP, at least for a guy with a career 1.13 WHIP). 

The Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers last time out behind a two-hit shutdown performance over seven innings by Darvish, so he's due for a regression (our opinion). 

Atlanta slugger Marcell Ozuna, who is 6-19 (.316) in his career against Darvish, is smoking hot this season. 

He's hitting .325 with a 1.010 OPS – and he likes playing at home, too, where he's hitting .361 with 22 of his 41 RBIs. 

And over the past 14 days, he's slashing .412/.475/.706. 

Sunday night is a perfect spot for Ronald Acuna to start hitting, too. 

 Braves moneyline -120 (FanDuel) Darvish OVER 2.5 runs allowed -130 (DraftKings)  

NFL 2024-25 season win totals

 These picks are based more on timing (before the numbers get worse) than the belief that either of these teams is going to win the Super Bowl, but that's what finding value is all about! 

 Pittsburgh Steelers OVER 7.5 wins -184 (FanDuel). The Steelers, yes, even with Russell Wilson, already have moved to 8.5 for their win total at DraftKings. 

They didn't have much at QB in 2023, either. Seattle Seahawks OVER 7.5 wins -120 (DraftKings). 

New coach bounce is real, and the Seahawks should protect Geno Smith – and Sam Howell(?) – pretty well this season.  

Remember: You could be walking around lucky and not even know it.